Combined machine element and lock washer



7 Dec. 21 192 M. v. LIDDELL COMBINED'MACHINE ELEMENT AND LOCK WASHER I Filed July 26,1923

- HWY Patented be: 2 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES QF E' MOSES YOLNEY LIDDELL, OF MATTITUGK, NEW YORK.

commimn mcnmn Ennmnn'r Ann LOCK wasnna;

' Application filed'Jnly 26, 1923. Serial N6. 858,863.

This invention relates to means for resisting unintentional rotation of 'a machme element that is adapted to be rotated at will,

and particularly to such means when made in the form of a lock washer. The invention is designed primarily to resist unintended rotation of screw threaded machine elements,

such as bolts, nuts, screws, and the like, but it is obviously adapted for use in resisting rotation of other machine elements as well. Also, the'invention is preferably embodied in a lock washer of the fsplit ring type,

formed with a spiral pitch that renders it.

resilient axially for the purpose of'keeping it in intimate hearing against the parts-between which it is confined, and, when used on a: screw hreaded element, keeping the screw threa s,in such frictional contact as will resist unscrewing when the element is in use.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of mounting a lock-washer upon the machine element in such a manner that it will be per manently carried thereby while permitted rotary and axial movement. relatively there to and without obstructing the face by which shown by way 0 illustration-,

fining the lock washer. in a cavity formed it contacts with the surface to which it is applied; features incident to the preferred embodiment of the invention consisting 11;

various methods of establishing the stated relationship between the lock washer .and the machine element, as well as certain $131110.

tural features incident to the different methodsof assembly. i

In the accompanyingdrawing, in which several embodiments of the invention are Figures 1 an 2 are axial sections illustrating one method of assembling .a lock washer with. a screw threaded nut,-Fi-gure 1 shpwingth original form of nut with receiving cavity. for the washer and an ax-' ially presented flange on the wall of said cavity, and Figure 2 showing the wall upset in order-to overhang the washer andconfine vit in the cavity.

' Figures 3 and 4 are bottom plan views,

respectively, .of the constructions shown in Figures 1 and 2.. .c

Figure .5 shows another method ofc'onin a threaded nut; and

Figure 6 suggests the assemblyof the lock washer, in accordance with the vention,-'with the head of a bolt.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, 1 represents a dotted lines in Figure 1.

.of the axis of rotation.

present inmachine element in the form of a nut having threads 2 by which it may be screwed on to abolt, tap screw, or aother'part constructed to receive it. 3' represents a lock washer havin a radial split 4 and formed with a "spiral set that provides digging-in toes 5, 6,

that adapt the washer to function in a well known manner. .Washer 3, instead of lying between an end face of the nut 1 and an-- other face opposite thereto, is received into a'qavity 7 'of the nut and confined therein by means which 'overhangs the washer axially without obstructing its outer impinging face, for instancean overhanging portion 8 of the circumferential wall 9 of the cavity,

the washer being preferably "constructed 7 .with a circumferential enlar ement 10, of-

igures 1 to 4 some suitable form (shown in as a rectangular flange) in order to facilitate confinement without retiring the outer annular surface of the washer within the cav ity. The overhang 8 (Figures 2 and 4) is preferably formed from an axially presented flange 8 (Figuresl and 3) forged, cut in a f screw machine, or otherwlse-formed at the time of producing the nut, and thereafter pressed inwardl to the, position shown in The lock washer assembled with the machine element as described, is free'to, rotate relatively to'the element, and also afforded a limited relative movement in the direction As suggeste in Figure 6, the lock -wasli may'be associated with any other form of machine element, such, for instance, as the cumferenceof thelock washer, may be confined in the nut 1 by means of a conical ungdercut in the wallof the cavity 7 which provides anoverhang 8 to engage the lock washer. p

In any form of device shown, as well as others readily deducible'from the illustrations selected, the lock washer may beassembled withthe machine element by turning it intqglth cavity after the manner of a screw thrfid" tion, the spiral set given to the washer readily permitting such procedure. Or, if the split 4 (Figures 1 to 1),4: '(Figure 6), or if (Figure be made sufficiently wide, it would be possible to assemble the loclcW'asherwvitl1 the machine element by contractingthe lock Washer circumferentially within its elastic'limit and then iHSQI'tr ing it into the cavity and permitting it to ex- 'yond its elastic limit and ing it, after introducing2it into the cavity,

pand therein; or contracting thebwasher be- 'orc1 1y expandto give it a new'set at a circumferential dimension ample to be engaged by the overhang of the cavity.

I- claim: 4

I 1. In combination, a rotary machine element, and an axially compressible split lock washerysaid Washer having an inner face through which it bears against said element,

and an outer bearing face; said element and washer being provided with radially extending overlapping means interlocking them-- against separatlon in the direction of the axis of the element; the overlapping means ofthe element'being spaced from the body ofthe element sufficiently to leave the overlapped portion of the Washer free to move both axially and circumferentially of the element; said overlappin means being wholly- Within the plane of ale onter bearing surface of the washer 2. A rotatable-machine element having an annular wall defining a cavity presented in a the directionof its axis of rotation, and a lock washer confined both radially and axially in said cavity with freedom of rotation relatively to the said element; said cavity being' of; less depth than the thickness of the lock washer. n 4 I 3. A rotatable machine element having a cavity concentric withits axis of rotation, and a lock Washer in said cavity; said cavity having an overhanging wall confining M the lock washer therein; and said Washer,

having a peripheral projection interlocking with said overhanging wall, being constructed with an outer impinging face in plane beyond said Wall.

4. A rotatable machine element having a cavity concentric with its axis of rotation, and a lock washer in said cavity; said'lock .washer having a circumferential enlarge- 

